And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul - `that he' (according to the true reading)
Called the chief of the Jews together - meaning the rulers of the synagogues and others of position and influence. These he 'called together,' being of course now precluded from going to them, as he otherwise would have done. Ever since Pompey settled the Jewish captives, whom he brought with him from the East ( 61 BC), in that part of Rome called now the 'Trastevere,' on the further side of the river-manumitting many of them-the number of Jewish residents at the capital continued to increase; and as they were active and enterprising, they grew wealthy and influential, and from time to time sent considerable sums to Palestine for the service of the temple, and other religious purposes. At length, being suspected of encouraging the treasonable designs of their countrymen in the East, and being themselves of a restless spirit, they began to be treated rigorously, and Claudius (as we have seen, Acts 18:2 ) banished them the city. But, long before the time here referred to, they were permitted to return, and at this time-which was early in the reign of Nero-they enjoyed full toleration, all was quiet with them, and they were both numerous and prosperous. (Their place of residence still is where it then was-in what is now called 'The Ghetto.') To call "the chief of the Jews together," and state his case to them in the first instance, was according to his uniform custom of going - "to the Jew first."
And when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans - that is, the Roman authorities, Felix and Festus.